Welcome

This is the webpage for the Cochrane Screening and Diagnostic Tests Methods Group (SDTM). The role of the SDTM Group is to manage the editorial process for systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy in The Cochrane Library.

The aim of this website is to provide resources and information to all those involved in preparing Cochrane systematic reviews of diagnostic accuracy

Cochrane DTA Support & Guidance

Please read the FAQ page but contact us if your query is not answered in the FAQ section. Below are brief highlights of some of our activities and links to further information and resources.

All Cochrane Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy (DTA) are published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and are labelled as reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy. A complete list of published DTA protocols & reviews is available.

Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy: As each chapter of the handbook is completed it will be published on this website.

Software development: RevMan 5.3 must be used to prepare Cochrane Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy. A RevMan DTA Tutorial and packages for more advanced statistical analyses are available heretogether with an overview of the changes introduced with the latest version of RevMan.

Editorial process: We have worked with Cochrane Review Groups and the Cochrane collaboration to develop a robust editorial process. The editorial process and requirements for title registration of systematic reviews of DTA are different from those used for the Cochrane systematic reviews of interventions. The DTA Review Proposal Form (RPF) is available here.

The DTA editorial team is a formally convened team of editors who currently work with CRGs to peer review all DTA protocols and reviews.